The Ratings -- What Do They Mean?

Every trail description on TrailDamage.com will have a Rating Box. This is a gray box to the right side of the page that details many different aspects of the trail.

Low-End Rating: The lower end of the scale showing the easiest this trail ever gets. This is how difficult the trail will be if you take all bypasses around obstacles and always take the easiest route through every area (while still remaining on the trail). The scale is from 1 to 10, with 10 being the most difficult.

High-End Rating: The higher end of the scale showing the hardest this trail ever gets. This is how difficult the trail will be if you take on all obstacles and always take the most difficult route through every area (while still remaining on the trail). The scale is from 1 to 10, with 10 being the most difficult.

Rock Crawling: The amount of rock-based obstacles. These include all kinds of rocks -- smooth obstacles with steep drop-offs, bumpy hills made of rock, and rock-strewn riverbeds and canyons. The scale is from 1 to 5, with 5 representing the highest amount of rock crawling. These numbers are represented with red Jeep icons.

Dirt & Mud: The amount of dirt or sand available on the trail rather than rock or water. Mud may occur only when the weather creates it or it may be year-round mud. The scale is from 1 to 5, with 5 representing a very high percentage of dirt rather than other driving surfaces. These numbers are represented with red Jeep icons.

Water Crossings: The amount of water on the trail. This includes all kinds of water crossings -- from small puddles to streams, creeks, ponds and lakes. The scale is from 1 to 5, with 5 representing the highest amount of water. These numbers are represented with red Jeep icons.

Playgrounds: The amount of available play areas rather than trail only. Playgrounds can be large or small areas of rock, sand, dirt, water or other surfaces fun to play on. They are either near the trail or a widened part of the trail. The scale is from 1 to 5, with 5 representing a high amount of playground areas. These numbers are represented with red Jeep icons.

Cliffs & Ledges: The amount of cliff faces and steep ledges. These are areas where the trail will run alongside and if you were to fall off you would be seriously hurt or killed. This also represents narrow ledges where it is possibly dangerous. The scale is from 1 to 5, with 5 representing the highest number of cliffs and ledges. These numbers are represented with red Jeep icons.

Climbs & Descents: The amount of steep climbing and descending. These can be individual obstacles that are very steep or they can be a trail that has a large change in elevation. A trail may only have climbs or descents, or it may have both. The scale is from 1 to 5, with 5 representing the highest amount of elevation changes or steep inclines. These numbers are represented with red Jeep icons.

Elevation: The amount of feet above sea level. These trails may start and end at a high elevation or they may also include a high number of Climbs & Descents as well. The scale is from 1 to 5, with 5 representing the highest elevation. These numbers are represented with red Jeep icons.

Scenery: The amount of scenic "photo ops." Admittedly, most trails are scenic -- this scale attempts to look at all trails here and rate them in comparison to each other. The scale is from 1 to 5, with 5 representing the highest amount of scenic areas. These numbers are represented with red Jeep icons.

Other Activities: The amount of other outdoor activities possible. Most trails will offer a large number of additional activities so this rating attempts to compare all trails to each other. Other Activities may include ATV riding, mountain biking, dirt biking, jogging, fishing, camping and rock climbing. The scale is from 1 to 5, with 5 representing the highest amount of other activities possible. These numbers are represented with red Jeep icons.

There is also more information about Google Earth Placemarks and Tracks if you need it.